Bharat (India)

From Isolation to Confidence: Riya’s Journey to the World Winter Games!

Riya, a Special Olympics athlete from Bharat, says she used to be alone and lonely. Now she’s part of a talented team that’s heading to the World Winter Games in Turin, Italy—and her life is full of confidence, camaraderie and hope.

Inclusion Beyond Sports is changing how people with intellectual disabilities (ID) are seen and integrated into society.

Happy Mother’s Day to all moms and mom-figures around the world of the athletes, coaches, volunteers, staff and supporters of the Special Olympics movement. Today, we recognize and thank you for all your hard work.Neena Garg is the mother of Muskan, an athlete from Special Olympics India. Neena faced isolation when family and community members turned their backs on her for loving and supporting Muskan. She fought to find a way for them to build community and confidence. Their efforts led Muskan all the way to Abu Dhabi where she competed as a powerlifter at the 2019 World Games.

“These kids we label ‘special’, are truly born to do special things in their lives!”

On the surface, cycling may seem like an individual sport, but it takes a team to get competitors across the finish line.

Ranveer made headlines in his local papers in 2015 when he became the first Bharat athlete to win a gold medal in golf at a World Games competition.

A National Youth Leadership Summit in India motivates youth of all abilities to be leaders in their communities.

For the past five years Simran Sahni, a Youth Leader from Special Olympics Bharat, has been on the front lines of the inclusion revolution.

Sahil's mother has watched her son Sahil, who has Down Syndrome, grow into a confident and social Youth Leader since Play Unified: Learn Unified was introduced to his school.